Clunking sound while driving?

2012 FORD FUSION
15,300 MILES • 3.0L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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JUANEMMANUEL
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While driving at slower speeds and on slightly uneven ground, there's a clunking sound like something is broken. I've looked under the car and visually nothing seems broken or loose. I've been hitting around with a rubber mallet, and nothing sounds out of place. I recorded a video of me driving and you can hear the sound. Any ideas?
Btw I've had the motor, transmission and torque strut mounts replaced not that long ago.
Correction: Mileage is 153,000 miles.
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Jul 1, 2023 at 6:12 PM
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STEVE W.
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Check the sway bar end links and bushings. Even a tiny amount of play in them will cause a lot of noise.
Jul 1, 2023 at 9:37 PM
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JUANEMMANUEL
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I checked them and they seem fine. However, I did notice that when I push down on the front of the car and it bounces, it makes that sound every time. Could it be the front struts?
Jul 3, 2023 at 7:29 PM
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STEVE W.
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Yes, top strut mounts can make a clunk if they are worn. If the mounts are worn that amount you might want to look at quick struts, they include the strut, the mount and new springs all in one unit. They are much easier to deal with and even the OEM Ford parts are cheaper when bought as complete units than buying individual pieces. They are also not hard to change, you basically jack the vehicle up, put jack stands in place then remove the tires. Then place a jack under the steering knuckle and just take up a bit of weight. Then you loosen the pinch bolt (8) and remove the top three nuts (6). Next you lower the jack just a bit and I use a bar to spread the ears that the pinch bolt was clamping, then the strut pulls out of the fork and the bolts drop out of the top. To get more room it's not a bad idea to remove the speed sensor wiring and unbolt the caliper so that the wires and hoses don't stretch. Then you reverse the process to install the new parts.
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Jul 4, 2023 at 3:12 AM
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JUANEMMANUEL
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I just replaced both front struts, the complete units with strut mounts, and while the sound has been reduced, it's still there, intermittently. What else could it be?
Jul 10, 2023 at 11:40 PM
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STEVE W.
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Disconnect the sway bar and see if the clunk stops. Also take a pry bar and see if you can flex the other suspension pieces. Sounds in the suspension can be a bear to locate because they are hard to track without using special tools. I use a chassis ear myself. However, one trick that can work is to use a digital recorder or even a cell phone to record the sounds, then move the recorder around to see where it is the loudest. I like the ear because you can select different microphone inputs to see where the sound is loudest. Some places do have them as loaner tools but it's not really common.
Jul 11, 2023 at 9:37 PM